2004 KTM reviews

I purchased a new '04 KTM 625 SXC after considering the different dual sport bikes available. I've owned XT 600's, XL650's, and KLR 600's as a dual sport reference, and Maico, Yamaha, and Kawasaki open class motocrossers for dirt only. My observations on the KTM:

1. Exceptional low end torque as well as fair to good top end rev-ability.
2. Build quality is top-notch; all high end parts and components. This makes it pretty expensive compared to other dual sport bikes, but the extra performance is well-worth the premium.
3. Quite a bit of vibration; noticeable at freeway speeds as a tingling coming up through the sole of my boots... handlebars not nearly as much.
4. Great multi-use platform for KTM: the use the same basic configuration for the 640 Adventure as well as the 625SMC and the Duke. Excellent and simple parts interchangeability.
5. Swallows bumps and ruts with barely a notice. To go through extremely rutted or broken up terrain, just open the throttle and let the front wheel skim the ground while the rear end powers through.
6. Shifting is buttery smooth; up or down, it almost doesn't require use of the clutch.
7. Electric start is strong and swift.
8. Much better looking than the other dual sport offerings; looks more purposeful and like a dirt-bike.
9. Front brake lever travel is mushy and long; I understand a lot of KTM dirt bikes are that way because of the small reservoir/piston used. I checked others at the dealership, and they were almost universally that way. Bleeding does little to make a difference here.
10. Tall...I stand on my toes at 6' 1".
11. Fuel tank is quite small. Larger tank is a popular upgrade...figure on about 80 to 90 miles before switching over to reserve on mostly street riding.
12. Slides easily and predictably. Judicious use of the throttle on corners will allow the rear to break free easily but controllably. Better to NOT be behind one of these in a race or dual sport get-together; you'll get beat to death by the roost!
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this bike is so fast and it has no problem beating the four strokes. The only ones that get in its way is the CRF250r and the YZ250F but it is a great jumping bike. It is great fun to play around on and it has a serouis side, this bike is great bike. Show less

It's been several months since my last review. I have replaced the tank with a bigger one, about 3 and half gallons. The range is now 150 miles or so depending on terrain. I had the seat taken down about an inch and a half at low point. I like it much better. This bike is super reliable, and does everything well. I lowered the rear sprocket by 2 to get more top end because the powernow and powernow plus boosted the performance. I upgraded the pegs, not necessary but nice. I had a seal leak at about 75 hours and the dealer fixed it. I would call the bike low maintenance. I love it. Ride safe. Show less

I have started riding with KTM brand since 2000. First I had one '98 KTM 125sx which felt like a good bike coming from a '98 TM 80cc. Well I raced one season with it and then bought the '00 125sx. It was even better than the '99. I raced two seasons with it and in the end of season two it started to fall apart, but I still think it was a good bike. Then I bought the '03 125sx which was a good bike with a pro-circuit silencer pipe and with sxs motor, but the handling was still not too good. Then I got my hands on a '04 KTM. The first impression was "this bike is the best KTM I have ever ridden!" The handling was much better, especially in corners which were flat with no walls. It's because the rear fender and the whole rear of the bike is lower than in the '03. The handlebars were much better (higher) and it had more power than my older sxs motor which the '03 had! Then I bought a doma pipe and silencer, JD racing, ignition box, and the motor was customized so that it had the most power in lower rpms. It had as much torque as a Kawasaki 250f had! The only problem was that I had to use 104 octane fuel and the top speed was not so good. Well we customized the motor so that it had more top speed and more power in mid range. Well the ultra powerful torque was gone, but now the bike was much faster in general so we left the motor like that. Bike worked fine for the rest of the season! Show less

This thing is not only fast and maneuverable, it is fun to ride! It is a blast to do 3rd & 4th gear wheelies on. I had to heat-cut grooves in the tires for dirt riding, though. It jumps well. Show less

The KTM 125 is like no other bike in its class. I was so excited to get my first KTM because I had heard so many good things about the bikes. I knew it would be good, but not this good. The KTM 125 reminds me of riding an 80 because of its awesome handling and the bike is just so easy to throw around and control. The motor is super strong and smooth all through the rmp range with monster power. Even with a big boy like me on the bike, it pulls on 4-strokes up the hills at the local tracks like Budd's Creeks. As long as KTM is making a 125 I'll never ride another 125. Show less

I bought this bike in May and made some modifications to it. There are a set of 22mm offset triple clamps, one less tooth on the rear sprocket and a Pro Circuit works pipe. that's it. I am having the suspension revalved over the winter. The only complaint I have is the bike came stock with so much low end power that it could have been used as a woods bike. This bike is extremely under-rated. I am pulling 3rd place over all in the 40 plus class against all 4 strokes! I hope to increase that to 2nd or first place next year. Show less

This bike is everything you could want in any situation I have come across. The power is smooth but plentiful, the suspension is very forgiving. I have probably doubled in speed on the tight single track in the month that I have owned this bike. Show less

I also have a 450 EXC 4 stroke which I have reviewd. I just traded a Honda 230 for the KTM 200 as a second bike. The handling is great, has plenty of pep, and can be picked thru tight stuff with good clutch work. However, the top end is less than I expected. I will add power and better pipes, then change the rear sprocket down 2 teeth. I'm not a motocross rider. I like KTM for quality. And the seats are an inch and a half lower than other brands, yet the clearance is the same or higher! Show less

the best part of this bike is definitely the engine. The powerband is quite different compared to a Yamaha 450. The yamaha has a low end snap the KTM just torques around. It's a little different to get used to and I used to find myself trying to add a little clutch to rush it. Roll it on earlier and it seems as though it's just going to lug, but then it just turns into an awesome smooth surge of power that only gets better through the mid and continuing thru the top. I've ridden Yamaha and Honda 450's and the KTM's middle is better and the top is a lot better. On tight tracks you can't experience a lot of that top, but if you get on a more wide-open outdoor track the engine is an absolute blast. My buddy says that when we get into the mid to top and then top end part of the powerband I pull away from his Yamaha. The handling isn't as precise as the Yamaha and I don't think it corners as well (I have 18mm triple clamps on) but seems just as good for stability. The front end feels a lot closer to you than on the Yamaha. Personally I like this, I feel like I'm more in control. I have more fun on the KTM than the Yamaha, the bike feels lighter and more playful compared to the Yamaha. The suspension has been very good, takes big landings just fine and seems comparable to the Yamaha and Honda in braking bumps. The brakes are okay at best. I think I still have an air bubble problem with my front because compared to the other bikes, especially my YZ 250F, it takes a lot more lever pull to get it to slow down. The back seems okay, but not as good as Yamaha or Honda. If brakes are a big deciding factor you'd be better off with the other bikes. The softer the dirt the better for this bike. The loamier the dirt is and the more it takes on a sandy feel the better this bike handles. For some reason the chassis just seems to come alive in the really soft stuff. To me it feels like a different bike in the soft stuff. When I'm in the soft stuff I seem to like the handling better than the other bikes, maybe it's just me, but this is where the chassis and engine really seem at home (Especially at sunset ridge in Walnut IL, man do I love it there!!). Usually I'm in a hurry to get a new bike every year, but for the first time in ages I'm going to keep this for two years. That should give you a good indication of how fun this bike is. It's also great to go to tracks and get looks. People see a lot of them and if you are a pretty good rider you seem to get even more looks and people coming up and talking to you, it's pretty cool. People like to see something different do well. I did have a hub explode on me when I landed a jump which I have never had happen before, my subframe bent in a crash, and the radiator cap and neck almost got riped off when a guy took me out and his rear wheel got caught in there and ripped it up. Would any of this happen with the japanese bikes? Couldn't tell you, but never had any of that happen before. Some things are a little harder to get as far as parts. Things like fork seals and new plastic has been fine, but when I try to get graphics or exhaust, most aftermarket stuff, sometimes it seems to take longer which can be a little frustrating. All in all though, it is a good bike that might make me a KTM rider for life. Most of this is because of the motor which I, and all of my friends, just absolutely love compared to the Yamaha and Honda. Show less